More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)

Edward the Confessor

(St Edward, c.1003-1066)King of England from 1042; son of Ethelred the Unready and of Emma, daughter of the duke of Normandy; married in 1045 Edith, daughter of Godwin, earl of Wessex. He spent his formative years (1016–41) in Normandy, and during his reign offended the English by favouring Normans at court. He was opposed by his powerful father-in-law, Godwin. Edward, who had no children, seems to have promised his crown to William, duke of Normandy. But on his deathbed he named as his heir Godwin's son, whose accession as *Harold II was followed by the Norman *Conquest.

Edward had a reputation for holiness and for working miracles (he is the first king known to have touched for the *king's evil), and he was canonized in 1161 with a feast day on October 13. He was later called the Confessor, meaning one who bears witness to the Christian faith in his life but is not martyred. The name distinguished him from an earlier canonized English king, Edward the Martyr (962–78), who was murdered at Corfe in Dorset.